The organist librarian

Went to Acton on trains and arrived after 10 so missed Louise. Tom showed us the work which has been done and it is all excellent. They have gained 2 rooms and a through lounge. Great to see the boys again and they liked the toy bilby and platypus - more presents later. I was very sleepy and slept well when we got home after an early night. Finished the fourth Laurie Lee book they give a great insight into Spain. To art and they liked the NZ biscuits we also had NZ chocolates. Worked on Henry Wood bust.  To interfaith lunch and report on Chennai. I gave out my group leaflets. Had a chat to Sarah about religious education. 

Spent the morning reading. To Alan and Ivor's for a very nice lunch. Renato and Gisela were not there but everybody else was. Nice to see everyone -Hatta as odd as ever! At Mass we had the first scrutiny but not with year A gospel and the choir of New Hall school sang Haydn, Bruckner and Mawby very well. Watched Great sewing Bee. 

Swam 20 and Liz came. She went to West Norwood to collect her repaired jacket. Later she went to Claire's to get trousers repaired. I started on the India picture. To interfaith lunch and there was discussion about Charlie Hebdo. Ivor and Ken saw the photos in video form. Gisela sent a CD and some more came from Peter.To Bromley Court hotel for joint Bromley/Beckenham Catenian meeting which was not that well attended. It was a great pleasure to meet the Grand President Bob Butler and his wife and they have known Eric Tope for years. They had visited Cardinal Vincent this afternoon and found hm very supportive. I had delicious pork and pavlova and we sat with the Smiths from South London and the president of Sevenoaks who was hard work - an accountant. Many congratulations and thanks and offers of support from Province. Hone by 10.15 and Liz won lavender shelfliners in the raffle - elderly? The snow held off. Friday a day at home swam 20 and listed Peter Myers' scores and put ...

Dec 31 in minibus to Mount St Thomas which gives a good view over the sprawling city which is polluted, dusty, hot and the traffic is awful. The Blessed Sacrament chapel was quite nice but the relics were a bit offputting. Our Lady of expectation heavily pregnant. Sadly the theosophical society garden which I was keen to see was closed so Ivor directed the driver to Our Lady's which his mother liked but ut wasn't anything special with a video showing and a nice carving in the Blessed Sacrament chapel and confessions going on. We missed seeing Georgetown and Vivekananda's house and the Government museum. In fact we saw very little! Chinese meal and turns out Cecil lives at Bromley college.

Dec 30 6.45 mass celebrated by the youth chaplain in Malayam- he has a most impressive voice and presence. Rain! Xavier came to the airport with us and asked us to get some tea for Lord Alton. Had to go back to security. Unfortunatley no shops in domestic to get the tea once through the barrier. We have not seen a lot of Xavier but had a restul time. Our 5.25 flight with Jetconnect was just over an hour but they managed to feed us. I read and slept! We were met at the big Chennai airport by a minicab and driven to the Laity training establishment in Kilpaul. Ken welcomed us as Alan was unwell and will come later. Our room has aircon and a fan - the aircon only came on later in the week after the linen was changed! All valuables have to be taken with us. The food is in a room down the corridor for which Hatta insisted she must have the key! We went straight to the Muslim wedding in the hall where we met the happy couple and ate off banana leaves with our fingers. We have missed Prem...

Swam 20 and Liz came too - not many there. Liz went to B and Q to get gardening stuff. To art and started painting the bottles picture and mixing acrylics using my new brushes. Drove to Streatham for interfaith lunch and met the Premraj family from Chennai. Prem told us about India and the recent elections. His son is an architect and he advised me about Chennai. I delivered the mock-ups of the recital programmes to church and found a wedding rehearsal in progress so begged the bride not to be late - an older couple who will marry in the Lady chapel which has some fine stained glass. Booked up tickets and we can visit Xavier in Kerala first and return on the Wednesday in good time for me to go to the St Matthew's course. To St John's for Ascension Day Mass. Mary was late - bit hard to tut tut while singing a hymn! Russell Watson from St Alban's preached but hard to hear him. We sang Darke in F and God is ascended up on high. Watched programme on Hanoverians.